Name: Friedrich Christian Kroger
Screen_shot_2010-11-15_at_7.32.50_PM.png
Friedrick Christian Kroger and his wife, Johanne cordes

Age: Born in 1850; 87 years old in 1937.
Gender: Male
Occupation:
Businessman (associated with Carlowitz & Company)
Social Class:
Middle Class
Financial situation:
Sufficient Living (family legacy), although he earned the university tuition for himself.
Appearance:
He is very serious looking, with brown hair and mustache. He has a small head, and most of the times wear suits.
Location (__map__): Nanking (Map is of France)
Habitual locations: He was born in Sievern, Germany and migrated to America, but came back to Germany in 1877.
Daily routine:
At 6 a.m., Christian wakes up. In the morning, he goes to his work, rather a place set up for his business along with others, connecting other regions. It's the place where he can contact overboard to the original company in Germany. Mainly as a business man but also a journalist who reports and records news when he has time, Christian often observes the Japanese's action and the changing Chinese society in the afternoon after his work along with other foreigners in the region. He contacts with America and Germany a couple of times each week to report his business progress as well as general news of the country and to contact their children abroad. During lunch and dinner times, Christian and his wife usually eat with the other foreigners. On times when they don't, Christian makes sure he is home by 9 p.m. with his wife. In the early mornings and the late evenings, Christian reads the bible and cherish Christian values, which he does altogether with others on Sunday.
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits:
Christian is a very logical person. As a businessman, he knows what's wrong and right, and what's beneficial for him or not. Therefore, he strongly criticizes Japan and its actions against China. He has a strong habit of nibbling on the pen when he is thinking or preparing to write and when concentrating, barely hear or see any other distractions. However, he is also a very caring person which shows through the numerous children he has. He tends to give out everything he has when seeing children or somebody in need such as people on the streets. Christian always has to have his handkerchief with him and he is a very religious person. He is caring, but not sacrificing. He cares very much about his family that are in Germany and America.
Past/individual-family history:
His ancestors are all from Germany, a rather prestigious class. However, few of his relatives
Family: He married to Johanne Cordes and had seven children : Marie, Frederich, Welhelmine, Freida, Meta, Hinrich, and Joann.
Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them):
In Nanking, Christian interacted very much with James Henry McCallum (RON Rachel), John Gillespie (RON Justing), John Magee (RON Janice), George Ashmore Fitch (RON Diana), Ernest Forster (RON Jenny), Wilson Plumber Mills (RON Jennifer), John Rabe (RON Eric), Minnie Vautrin (RON Christine), Robert Wilson (RON Ian), and Frank Tillman (RON Sung-Woo). These were some of the only 27 foreigners that survived in the city of Nanking during the war. Christian worked and recorded what the Japanese were doing to the Chinese. Although Christian is German, he is definitely against the Japanese and their brutal slaughtering.
Religion:
Christianity. He became a Christian when he immigrated to America. The Western missionaries in Nanking also kept him hold his faith.
Education:
Christian graduated a full university program in Chicago, Ilinois, United States of America before going back to Germany to marry his wife.
Portrait: see right


Sites Used :

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/e/g/a/Patti-E-Egan/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0030.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=rRD_fXL3_swC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=christian+kroger+nanking&source=bl&ots=l9LOxphvoj&sig=6YjPaK6o32UW3PRRy0nhWjgwUMY&hl=en&ei=MgrhTMOuMor0tgOH5pjeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=christian%20kroger%20nanking&f=false

http://books.google.co.kr/books?id=N-vXRgEAPU0C&pg=PA243&lpg=PA243&dq=Christian+Kroger+Nanking&source=bl&ots=A3uaIgLHs_&sig=bA8vIf1uk7vN72j9Wsakep_mB0o&hl=en&ei=6QnhTM-jDJKosAP27vnpCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDoQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Christian%20Kroger&f=false


Picture from :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40398737@N02/3751777377/


Introduction : Iris Chang, Author of "Rape of Nanking"



Movie From :
http://www.izlese.org/iris-chang-the-rape-of-nanking.html#download




Diary # I: Calm Before the Storm

August 6, 1937


Dear Johanne Cordes, my lovely wife,
geer_letter_650.jpg
How are you my dear? I know its been quite long since I wrote to you and I'm very sorry. But the situation here is quite tense now. You must know about the Japanese attack on China here about a month ago. Although the Chinese have been fighting very hard, the Japanese are vigorously eating away on them. Oh God, please save this land and these people. John Rabe(RON Eric) and I were discussing this afternoon about home back in Germany and how peaceful it would be there. Although the Japanese haven't reached our
second_sino-japanese_war_map_japanese_control_1.jpg
Japan's invasion

city of Nanking yet, I hear that they are heading this way. Moreover, I hear their killing is cruel and ruthless. However, don't worry my dear. The Westerners here doubt that we would be in danger. Plus, we would be able to go back to our homelands. However, Johanne, please spread the word about the brutally slaughtered citizens here. Although I am originally here for business purposes, when I look the Chinese in trembling fear and James' (James Henry McCallum - RON Rachel) and others' hospitals, there are already quite a few people who have fled from the damage filling in the places. It might seem so cruel and careless, but I am very glad that you're not here with me, just in case of what you would have to see further on. God is always with us and my faith is unshakable, no worries. Did you hear how the kids are doing inAmerica? When my work is done here, we should stop by to see them and our grandchildren as well. My pen is again ruined. Urg, I should really stop this. May God protect us as well as you and our children and all the Chinese people. Please be healthy.

Sincerely from your love,
Christian Kroger

Pictures from :
http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/monitor/geer.html
http://www.thefullwiki.org/Second_Sino-Japanese_War



Diary # 2: A Knock at the Gate


December 14, 1937

Oh Lord. At last, they have come. Although the march towards Nanking was known for days, the Japanese actually entered our city yesterday, December 13th. All urban and rural areas that the Japanese surpassed have not survived. According to the news and the radio, the regions were razed to the ground and the population decreased by 1/700. What monsters... But worse, we received news that General Matsui Iwane (RON Austin) is ill, therefore was put in charge of the entire central China theatre while this Prince Asaka (RON Kevin) came in charge. James (RON Rachel) tells me that he is famous even in Japan for his strict violence. What is he going to do to the Chinese? There are white flags everywhere. Already thousands of them have turned themselves in because of the tall tales Japanese have told them about better treatment. They are now under Japanese control without any arms to protect themselves or the willingness to escape. Do the Chinese truly believe that?

Personally, I don't have any crucial worries about Japanese threatening my lives, which I assume is agreeable for all the westerners here. They won't be able to attack us in anyway if they want to avoid international conflicts with the West powers. Moreover, Japan is very closely tied with Germany, in a more loyal way, which I am
800px-War_flag_of_the_Imperial_Japanese_Army.svg.pnggreatly embarrassed, or rather ashamed by now. Such a country, who ruthlessly slaughter another nation for their own ambitions, not even pertaining any diplomatic conflicts, should not be in a favored relationship with my mother land. There is great corruption arising in Germany with different races as well, which is partially why I am not in the country at the current state. While I also stand ashamed by my own home country, Japan is a different case. Even when they have just arrived at Nanking yesterday, so much have been destroyed throughout the mainland because of them. My life, on the other hand, is far from being at risk. However, if Japanese fatally destroy China in such a way, it will ruin my business. I am here, as a representative of a company, away from my family, for business with the Chinese companies as well as foreign countries that China interacts with. If China is left devastated by the Japanese invasion, what is there left to compromise with the Chinese? The companies would be out of business because of the depopulation and physical destroying of companies' foundations. Talking to the Chinese people, women, men, and students, I could already feel their anti-emotions against the concept of foreigners and western influence. How am I supposed to interact with the Chinese citizens or even the Chinese government for business if they are paralyzed with foreigners? Mentioning the Chinese, let alone my problems, are there even going to be any Chinese existing for my business to operate?

Did I sound too cruel or pitiless.. Maybe it just shows what the Japanese are capable of in destroying so many people's lives. God protect the Chinese. Save the Japanese from their own sins. I pray to Lord. Father, what are you planning for these people? Are our prayers not enough to save the poor souls here? What is going to happen to the people in Nanking?

Picture from :


Diary # 3: The Gates Come Tumbling Down

December 16th, 1937

Dear Johanne,
How are you doing dear? I know it's been quite a while since you heard from me. I'm very sorry. The situation is not that well here. It's been only two days that the Japanese have come into our city, but the feeling of unease is already widespread to all of the citizens. The thing is, Chinese soldiers significantly outweigh the number of the Japanese soldiers. It's going to be impossible to even kill all these soldiers. But why are they giving in? There is barely any sign of resistance among the Chinese. Johanne, it is much more pitiful than you would ever imagine. You wouldn't be able to bear the sight of the Chinese soldiers going around looking for anything white that they could carry to the Chinese for surrender. I could just feel the laughter from the Japanese territory. They have used the strategy of promising the Chinese fair treatment in return for an end to resistance, which was apparently much easier than they thought. Honey, even in my perspective, the reluctance of the Chinese army to fight back is just so stunning. What makes these people so afraid? What lives have they lived? I do not know or want to think about what the Japanese would do with the captured prisoners. There are so many. It would be completely insane and inhumane for them to kill all those, right? Please pray for these people Johanne.
Oh, but there is also good news as well. The International Red Cross Committee that I am a member of is finally put into action. With the chairman as John Magee (RON Janice), we have met today in order to discuss the situation in Nanking and how we should relief the tension among citizens as well as take care of the refugees and injured soldiers, although there aren't that many just yet. I am simply glad that there is at least some international support to help the Chinese here. You probably heard about the International Committee of the Nanking Safety Zone also. I haven't joined the organization, but I think it would be really helpful for the Chinese refugees. So dear, don't worry, we're trying our best here. And please don't worry about my safety. That's the last thing on the danger list in this war. Just try to keep an even eye on our children in America and that they're doing well. In such tense international conflicts around the globe, we should always be careful of being in foreign countries. Hope you're taking good care of yourself as well. I doubt your reply would come back to me now. Take care my love.

From, your husband,
Christian Kroger




Diary # 4: Through the Gates into Hell


December 20th, 1937 (The picture of Mao Zedong, in his latter years, swimming is a bit incongruous)
gao-qiang-painting-that-shows-mao-in-a-blood-red-yangtze-river.jpg
Dear Diary,
I dare not write anything to my wife at this point, so I record here. Only four days have passed since the Japanese arrived, and only two since I wrote to my love, Johanne.Already, however, It is true hell here. Have I ever imagined hell? I guess I don't have the rights to say anything about it since I'm not one of the Chinese who are suffering right now. Slaughters have occurred. Not just murders, but genocides. On December 16th, the thousands of captures under Japanese control were.. killed.. I can't even believe my hand is writing this down. PLEASE ON EARTH LEAVE THE CIVILIANS ALONE! What trouble did they cause? Is it so much of the Japanese pride to kill every single civilian in the city, including all women, young, and old? How do the Japanese expect the Chinese citizens to understand their language let alone whole-heartedly welcome them? They are just brutally killing. Brutally. The Yangtze River is blood-red. The rivers are red. The alleys are red. There are more dead bodies than live ones. Fire is everywhere. What is happening Lord?

Johanne, if you can ever hear my silent cry.. Do you know anything about a Comfort House? The Comfort House for Japanese Soldiers. Do you know what that place is? What a horrif
ying nightmare it is? Comfort Women. I never knew the ground that I am walking on would be covering such an inhumane crime. Thousands of women are captured for prostitution by the military soldiers. Do they think they would be able to escape the international assessment if such a thing is underground? Or limited to 200 thousands of people? Please, oh God, please. I don't know what's going on there but no, this should not be happening.

I was walking with with John (RON Janice) today after our meeting of the Red Cross Organization when I caught a sight on one of the deserted streets of Nanking. There were two Japanese soldiers and a Chinese woma
city_women.jpg
n. They seemed to be having a severe quarrel. When one of the Japanese soldiers decided violence would be the only way to either get rid of her or rape her, the women saw us walking and cried out for help. The Japanese soldiers was very much startled and ran away, leaving the shaking Chinese woman deserted on the street. Since we were men ourselves already, we thought it wouldn't be that helpful for us to be with her either. We carefully escorted her back to her house and made sure she is safe, since she didn't want to leave her house because of

I am disgusted. Purely scandalized. Who are these people? What does "Japan" mean? All this.. this, stuff.. is not going to turn out well. They are going to lead to other catastrophic events. They are going to regret themselves. Oh, Lord,
please. Have some pity over all these people. Please, stop, stop all this. There is going to be left.

Movie - Minnie Vautrin On Rape of Nanking Nanking has been raped.


Picture from :
http://blackholereviews.blogspot.com/2010/05/nanking-massacre-two-films-to-remind-us.html
http://laurenfenton.com/?attachment_id=934

Movie :
http://www.izlese.org/minnie-vautrin-on-rape-of-nanking.html




Diary # 5: A Survivor


December 24, 1945

Ah, Where is the lovely Christmas? Where is all the happiness? Preparation for the rejoicing of the birth of Christ? Where is love?
Several years have passed since the rape of Nanking by the Japanese. Many things have changed ever since then. No, the whole world changed completely. The Second World War. How am I a survivor of all this? Don't let the people dare say that the early middle ages of Europe was dark. An undeveloped state of a country was far better off than a country of dying people. The Japanese after the incident at Nanking, although I left China the following year, became much stronger and more ambitious. Watching from the opposite side of the world, Japan struggled so much to keep their "supremacy" in the Asian continent through expaScreen_shot_2010-11-29_at_7.14.28_PM.pngnsion. The lack of oil resources intrigued them even more. But oh, how they confronted America. It was just a ridiculous suicidal approach. Even more in the situation where America offered a peace treaty!

The bombing of Pearl Harbor started everything. Japan declares war on the United States. Following right after, German declares war on United States. Ruthless fighting continues and thousands of innocent people die. And then, people die. After that, countries seek for revenge and so, people die. Was it time for the eternal judgement? The world could not have survived on as such. But before I say anything,diary, please forgive such words that must be written as a citizen of Germany. Oh, goodness my trembling hand.. I am most deeply ashamed, ASHAMED of being a German now. As a 95 years old man, I have lived long enough to have experienced bad people, evil people, slaughters, and inhumanity. But never have I ever seen such demonic savages like… my own people.. Japanese in Nanking were angels. I can guarantee with my life that the monstrous genocide occurred in my county would be the worst throughout history and the future until the possible third World War. Nobody kills people like that. Like rats.. like animals.. Okay, I believe the media would do much of a better job for me on criticizing our country.

Now, with my deathbed not so far from me, I look behind all the ages. What has caused all this? What had made people to kill their own species so brutally? If Germany didn't have any racist minds against Jewish, this wouldn't have happened. If Germany haven't declared war on United States, this wouldn't have happened. If United States haven't created another and one of the most crucial massacre along with Germany through the releasing of atomic bombs in Japan, this disaster wouldn't have resulted. If Japan didn't bomb the Pearl Harbor, United States wouldn't have been involved in this whole tragedy. If Japan didn't invade the Indies, China, and started the ruthless killing, there wouldn't have been conflicts with other countries.
The list could go on forever. However, since my old and poor memory only allows me to remember the Nanking incident the best as an actual survivor with direct experience, I feel great pity and sympathy for Japan. I remember how I said that the killing of Nanking would lead to so many other catastrophic disasters.

Nanking has been raped in 1937. 1945, the whole world has been raped.


Picture :
http://www.edtenney.com/WWIIMadalionEntrance.htm




Conclusion : Effects People Have Today - Behind the Forgotten Eyes


Movie From :
http://www.izlese.org/behind-the-forgotten-eyes-trailer.html#download